HAMILTON — Timothy Lee Ivers, 39, says he's not guilty of abusing a mentally retarded man he was supposed to be helping.

        A videotape recorded images of Mr. Ivers dragging 36-year-old Glenn Kidd of Fairfield backward by his belt into a restroom. Inside, an audio recorder captured some sounds, then Mr. Ivers, in a stern tone of voice saying, “Do you understand me, Glenn? ... Stand up! Stand up! ... We're going to sit down and we're going to listen and we're going to be good. Right?”

        The tape was played Monday, the first day of Mr. Ivers' trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court. He is accused of felony patient abuse and misdemeanor assault. If convicted, he faces a total of two years in prison and up to $6,000 in fines.

        Mr. Ivers' lawyer, Frank workshop run by the county Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD).

        Mr. Ivers worked as a trainer there. Mr. Kidd, who is autistic, has been receiving services at the facility since the day it opened in December
1983, said Frederick M. Valerius, MRDD superintendent.

        The trial comes at a time when the state MRDD system is under scrutiny. Last month, as part of its continuing investigation of the system, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that employees who abuse the mentally retarded are rarely prosecuted. (Special report)

        Mr. Schiavone suggested that Mr. Ivers was simply trying to be responsible and provide the constant supervision that Mr. Kidd's conditions dictate.

        Evaluations indicate Mr. Kidd functions at the level of a 1- to 2-year-old child in most skill areas. He also has a history of running away, and has even been hit by a car at least once.

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